Ho Chi Minh City tourism businesses apply digitalization to flexibly adapt to the market

Effective application of digital technology in the tourism industry helps increase benefits for tourists.

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On May 15, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association coordinated with the Travel Association, Golf Association and Hotel Association to organize the program “Tourism and Entrepreneurs: Meeting - Creating - Developing” with the theme “Sharing and practical application of AI, TikTok and digital management in the tourism industry”. The event attracted a large number of businesses, experts and managers in the tourism industry, showing that digital transformation is becoming the center of the strategy to improve the competitiveness of businesses in this industry.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Y Yen, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, spoke at the program on May 15.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Y Yen, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, said that the program is a practical bridge between travel businesses, hotels, destinations and service providers. Not only introducing products and promoting brands, this is also an opportunity to find strategic partners, aiming towards a sustainable and professional tourism ecosystem.

“We want to create an open space for businesses to share experiences and discuss new directions in a volatile market with many opportunities. The current trend is that Ho Chi Minh City businesses are proactively innovating their models, prioritizing technology, data and modern management to increase operational efficiency and enhance the tourist experience," said Mr. Y Yen.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, digital transformation is an inevitable trend, especially for cities with a large management space and diverse potential types such as MICE, industrial tourism, and healthcare. Ho Chi Minh City is investing in a shared data system for the tourism industry, helping businesses easily exploit resources, build digital communities, and integrate into international platforms such as Google Map, Google Earth, etc. To date, 366 destinations have been updated on the digital map; many tourism products are present on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Traveloka, Klook, etc.

Tourists increasingly prioritize choosing destinations with many digital technology applications.

From a business perspective, Ms. Vang Thi My Nang, General Director of Nhanh Travel, said that digital management is the process of applying technology to automate, synchronize and optimize all operations, from human resources, customers to finance and data. Accordingly, digitally transforming businesses not only replace books with software but also change the mindset of operating businesses with digital data.

"In reality, Vietnamese enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, have only partially digitized and have not yet integrated as comprehensively as developed countries in the region. But this is also an opportunity for Vietnam to shorten the gap if it applies digital technology in the right direction. The great benefits of applying digital technology in the right direction include: increasing efficiency, reducing costs, making faster and more accurate decisions thanks to data, and making it easier to expand or raise capital," said Ms. Vang Thi My Nang.

According to Ms. My Nang, many businesses when applying digital transformation often face common challenges such as not knowing where to start, being afraid of change and lacking determination from leaders. “Tourism businesses that want to digitize should not wait for perfection to start. Start from the 'pain point' - systematize the confusing parts, digitize the manual parts. Don't worry about being small, just go first and do it right and you will develop quickly," Ms. Nang added.

Towards a smart tourism ecosystem

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, many businesses have also applied artificial intelligence (AI) to manage reservations, forecast guest numbers, adjust prices in real time, analyze consumer behavior, etc. Because AI helps save human resources, optimize operations and bring more personalized experiences to customers. Besides AI, social networking platforms are also being utilized to become effective tourism promotion tools.

"Short videos introducing destinations, sharing travel tips or experience itineraries go viral, strongly reaching young customers - those who tend to choose destinations through visual images. Without the need for expensive campaigns, sometimes a genuine, creative video can attract thousands of people interested in a destination," said a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotel businesses applying digital technology have made it easier for customers to book hotel rooms.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, said that digital transformation creates a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the tourism industry. Currently, the application of technology helps tourism businesses improve their competitiveness, build the image of a modern, smart and friendly destination for international tourists. Therefore, businesses need to proactively promote digital transformation, apply smart technologies to their work to convey messages to tourists as quickly as possible.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Smart Tourism Development Project for the period 2020 - 2025, with a vision to 2030, the City is building a digital tourism ecosystem with three pillars: smart destinations, convenience for tourists and smart business. Data integration, trend analysis and demand forecasting will support the government and businesses in policy making, designing suitable products, and reducing risks in the context of a constantly changing market.

Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa said that digital transformation also helps improve the quality of state management and better serve businesses. In 2024 - 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism will continue to promote digital solutions to improve operational efficiency and support businesses in sustainable development.

"When the international market is still recovering unevenly, the ability to grasp technology, be flexible in approaching customers and optimize operations are vital factors for domestic businesses to stand firm and grow. Digital transformation is no longer an option but a vital need for the modern tourism industry. Close coordination between management agencies and the business community will help Ho Chi Minh City build a smarter, friendlier and more attractive tourism industry in the eyes of domestic and international tourists," added Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa.

Source: VNA

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/doanh-nghiep-du-lich-tp-ho-chi-minh-ung-dung-so-hoa-de-thich-ung-linh-hoat-thi-truong-20250516101322573.htm